MR. BIG SHOT: The Knicks may end up starting Amar'e Stoudemire at center to begin the season. Photo: AP

HARTFORD, Conn. — Amar’e Stoudemire has done just about everything the Knicks have asked. Now their new star may be asked to start at center.

The Knicks have three natural centers on the roster, but when opening night dawns in 11 days in Toronto, the starting lineup may not have a traditional pivot on the court.

With coach Mike D’Antoni’s concern growing about the team’s outside shooting and speed, the Knicks coach is strongly considering using Stoudemire at center, enabling the club to stick another shooter into the lineup in the backcourt — likely the impressive Roger Mason.

Three weeks into training camp, with the Celtics looming tonight at the Hartford Civic Center (7:30, MSG), D’Antoni still is befuddled regarding his starting unit. He’s debating on whether to field a small lineup that features a traditional shooting guard in Mason, or a big lineup that has either 7-foot-1 Russian center Timofey Mozgov or Ronny Turiaf in the pivot and 6-foot-8 Wilson Chandler playing out of position at the 2.

D’Antoni is tempted to go smaller, preferring a quicker pace more adept from the perimeter, and that could space the floor for Stoudemire.

Tonight, Mason is expected to make his first start at shooting guard, with Chandler moving over to his more natural power-forward slot. Stoudemire will rest tonight and either Mozgov or Turiaf will start at center. But tomorrow against Washington, when Stoudemire returns, he might play center in an undersized lineup.

D’Antoni said he likely will change in the second half and use either rookie Landry Fields or sharpshooter Andy Rautins at shooting guard. Both second-round picks wore starters’ blue jerseys yesterday.

It all speaks to the imbalanced nature of the young roster that has many versatile players but no definitive starting shooting guard or center on the roster. It has D’Antoni’s head spinning.

“We’re trying to find the perfect combination, the best offensive team, the best defensive team, to open the floor up, giving Amar’e his best possibility to run rampant,” D’Antoni said. “That’s what we’re looking at, whether that’s small and fast or big and slower. I don’t know.”

There is concern if the Knicks use a traditional center, there won’t be enough perimeter shooters on the floor to open it up for Stoudemire. There’s a chance Stoudemire will be doubled and tripled if his mates are not knocking down open perimeter shots. To date, neither Danilo Gallinari nor Chandler have been dangerous from the outside.

Nevertheless, Stoudemire could be overwhelmed defensively at center — like David Lee was. Plus, Stoudemire is nowhere near the rebounder Lee was. Stoudemire made remarks during the summer he wanted to play center only sparingly.

D’Antoni admits with Mason at the 2, Chandler at the 4 and Stoudemire at the 5, the club’s attack is more formidable.